Then he will come before his Lord, praise Him with words of praise, and prostrate before Him. Once He permits him to intercede, he will intercede for them.”
Such is the position of these, who are the best of creation; what, then, of others? After the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, died, they did not call upon him, seek his aid in distress, or ask him for anything, whether at his grave or far from it. Indeed, they did not even pray at his grave or anyone else’s grave. Rather, they invoked blessings and peace upon him, obeyed his commands, followed his law, and fulfilled the duties that Allah Most High loves concerning His own rights, the rights of His Messenger, and the rights of His believing servants. For he, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:
“Do not praise me excessively as the Christians praised Jesus son of Mary. I am only a servant, so say: ‘Allah’s servant and Messenger.’”
He also said:
“O Allah, do not let my grave become an idol that is worshipped.”
And he said:
“Do not make my grave a place of recurring observance. Invoke blessings upon me wherever you are, for your invocations of blessings reach me.”
And he said:
“May Allah curse the Jews and Christians: they took the graves of their prophets as places of worship.”
He was warning against what they had done.
A man said to him, “Whatever Allah wills and you will.” He replied, “Have you made me a rival to Allah? Say: ‘Whatever Allah alone wills.’”
He also said:
“Do not say, ‘Whatever Allah wills and Muhammad wills.’ Rather, say, ‘Whatever Allah wills, then Muhammad wills.’”
It is related in al-Musnad that Mu‘ādh ibn Jabal prostrated before him. He said, “What is this, Mu‘ādh?”
He replied, “O Messenger of Allah, I saw people in the Levant prostrating before their bishops, and they attribute this practice to their prophets.”
He said, “Mu‘ādh, if I were to command anyone to prostrate before another, I would command a woman to prostrate before her husband, because of the great right he has over her.”
And he said, “O